September 30, 2012

26th Sunday of Ordinary Time

First Reading: Numbers 11:25-29

   The LORD then came down in the cloud and spoke to him. Taking some of the spirit that was on Moses, he bestowed it on the seventy elders; and as the spirit came to rest on them, they prophesied. Now two men, one named Eldad and the other Medad, were not in the gathering but had been left in the camp. They too had been on the list, but had not gone out to the tent; yet the spirit came to rest on them also, and they prophesied in the camp. So, when a young man quickly told Moses, "Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp," Joshua, son of Nun, who from his youth had been Moses' aide, said, "Moses, my lord, stop them." But Moses answered him, "Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the people of the LORD were prophets! Would that the LORD might bestow his spirit on them all!"

தமிழ்

Second Reading: James 5:1-6

   Come now, you rich, weep and wail over your impending miseries. Your wealth has rotted away, your clothes have become moth-eaten, your gold and silver have corroded, and that corrosion will be a testimony against you; it will devour your flesh like a fire. You have stored up treasure for the last days. Behold, the wages you withheld from the workers who harvested your fields are crying aloud, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. You have lived on earth in luxury and pleasure; you have fattened your hearts for the day of slaughter. You have condemned; you have murdered the righteous one; he offers you no resistance.

Gospel Reading: Mark 9:38-48

   At that time, John said to Jesus, "Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us." Jesus replied, "Do not prevent him. There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me. For whoever is not against us is for us. Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward. "Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were put around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed than with two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life crippled than with two feet to be thrown into Gehenna. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. Better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into Gehenna, where 'their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.'"

Reflection: Fr. James Theophilus 

   The attitudes of Jesus and John are quite interesting and they also opposing. Jesus’ attitude is all inclusive where as John’s attitude is very exclusive. Besides this, John considers the work of Jesus as a privilege and private. John sees Jesus as someone belonging to him and others have no right over even his name. Jesus’ attitude is that if someone is casting demons out by mentioning the name of Jesus then he is honouring the name.
   Hand, feet and eyes are precious parts of one’s body. Hands refer to the activity of any person; feet refer to the way of life; eyes refer to the vision of life. If any person’s (disciple’s) activity or way of life or vision of life does not fit into that of God’s activity or  way of life or vision then it is as good as being lost.

September 23, 2012

25th Sunday of Ordinary Time

First Reading: Wisdom 2:12,17-20

   The wicked say: Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us; he sets himself against our doings, reproaches us for transgressions of the law and charges us with violations of our training. Let us see whether his words be true; let us find out what will happen to him. For if the just one be the son of God, he will defend him and deliver him from the hand of his foes. With revilement and torture let us put him to the test that we may have proof of his gentleness and try his patience. Let us condemn him to a shameful death; for according to his own words, God will take care of him.

தமிழ்

Second Reading: James 3:16-4:3

   Beloved, where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every foul practice. But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without inconstancy or insincerity. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for those who cultivate peace. Where do the wars and where do the conflicts among you come from? Is it not from your passions that make war within your members? You covet but do not possess. You kill and envy but you cannot obtain; you fight and wage war. You do not possess because you do not ask. You ask but do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.

Gospel Reading: Mark 9:30-37

   Jesus and his disciples left from there and began a journey through Galilee, but he did not wish anyone to know about it. He was teaching his disciples and telling them, "The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him, and three days after his death he will rise." But they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to question him. They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house, he began to ask them, "What were you arguing about on the way?" But they remained silent. They had been discussing among themselves on the way who was the greatest. Then he sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them, "If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all." Taking a child he placed it in their midst, and putting his arms around it he said to them, "Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the one who sent me."

Reflection: Fr. James Theophilus 

   The disciples were like students in a classroom. They did not understand yet they did not question to clarify or verify the saying. They were also afraid to question the master. When they themselves were questioned by the master they remained silent. The disciples were in a different world altogether. Master – student relationship was the same even in those days.
   Jesus did not leave his students (disciples) ignorant rather he took special tuition for them. The lives which they were trying to live had different values. They were learning a different subject, different life-style and were having different goal in life. Worldly ideas and values would not fit into the system which Jesus was trying to communicate to them. The disciples had to understand and accept that humility and service were essentials for Jesus and his kingdom.

September 16, 2012

24th Sunday of Ordinary Time

First Reading: Isaiah 50:5-9

   The Lord God opens my ear that I may hear; And I have not rebelled, have not turned back. I gave my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who plucked my beard; My face I did not shield from buffets and spitting. The Lord GOD is my help, therefore I am not disgraced; I have set my face like flint, knowing that I shall not be put to shame. He is near who upholds my right; if anyone wishes to oppose me, let us appear together. Who disputes my right? Let him confront me. See, the Lord GOD is my help; who will prove me wrong?

தமிழ்

Second Reading: James 2:14-18

   What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well," but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it? So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead. Indeed someone might say, "You have faith and I have works." Demonstrate your faith to me without works, and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works.

Gospel Reading: Mark 8:27-35

    Jesus and his disciples set out for the villages of Caesarea Philippi. Along the way he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that I am?" They said in reply, "John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others one of the prophets." And he asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter said to him in reply, "You are the Messiah." Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him. He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days. He spoke this openly. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do." He summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them, "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it.

Reflection: Fr. James Theophilus 

   Peter was oscillating between the divine revelation and human thinking. Peter was receiving divine revelation. Jesus was the messiah was not acquired by human thinking. Human thinking could take people to consider Jesus as a prophet. It could not go beyond that. But Jesus was the messiah was given by God. (It was not flesh and blood that revealed this to you but my Father in heaven).
   Peter was trying to mix divine revelation with human thinking. Peter wanted a messiah according to his human thinking. But Jesus was presenting a messiah according to the plan of God. Jesus was presenting a suffering messiah. Peter could not see the sense of this. His human thinking found this as a contradiction. Peter who was open to divine revelation should have been also open to the divine revelation in Jesus.

September 9, 2012

23rd Sunday of Ordinary Time

First Reading: Isaiah 35:4-7

   Thus says the LORD: Say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not! Here is your God, he comes with vindication; With divine recompense he comes to save you. Then will the eyes of the blind be opened, the ears of the deaf be cleared; Then will the lame leap like a stag, then the tongue of the dumb will sing. Streams will burst forth in the desert, and rivers in the steppe. The burning sands will become pools, and the thirsty ground, springs of water.

தமிழ்

Second Reading: James 2:1-5

   My brothers and sisters, show no partiality as you adhere to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ. For if a man with gold rings on his fingers and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and a poor person in shabby clothes also comes in, and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say, "Sit here, please," while you say to the poor one, "Stand there," or "Sit at my feet," have you not made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil designs? Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters. Did not God choose those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he promised to those who love him?

Gospel Reading: Mark 7:31-37

    Again he left the district of Tyre and went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, into the district of the Decapolis. And people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment and begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him off by himself away from the crowd. He put his finger into the man's ears and, spitting, touched his tongue; then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him, "Ephphatha!" that is, "Be opened!" And immediately the man's ears were opened, his speech impediment was removed, and he spoke plainly. He ordered them not to tell anyone. But the more he ordered them not to, the more they proclaimed it. They were exceedingly astonished and they said, "He has done all things well. He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak."

Reflection: Fr. James Theophilus 

   Jesus wanted to keep something secret until the right moment. He healed a man who was deaf and who had a speech impediment. If the man was healed of speech impediment then he had to speak out openly. Jesus healed him of speech impediment and how could Jesus expect him to be silent.  This story is about secrets and speech.
   Jesus needed a bit more time to go around preaching the kingdom. Jesus wanted to gather more support; he wanted to make his message be heard by more people; and he wanted to do more healing. But the message of him reached faster than he expected and spread far and wide. Mark wanted the readers not to be deaf and blind to the message that he was communicating.

September 2, 2012

22nd Sunday of Ordinary Time

First Reading: Deuteronomy 4:1-2,6-8

   Moses said to the people: "Now, Israel, hear the statutes and decrees which I am teaching you to observe, that you may live, and may enter in and take possession of the land which the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you. In your observance of the commandments of the LORD, your God, which I enjoin upon you, you shall not add to what I command you nor subtract from it. Observe them carefully, for thus will you give evidence of your wisdom and intelligence to the nations, who will hear of all these statutes and say, 'This great nation is truly a wise and intelligent people.' For what great nation is there that has gods so close to it as the LORD, our God, is to us whenever we call upon him? Or what great nation has statutes and decrees that are as just as this whole law which I am setting before you today?"

தமிழ்

Second Reading: James 1:17-18,21-22,27

   Dearest brothers and sisters, all good giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no alteration or shadow caused by change. He willed to give us birth by the word of truth that we may be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. Humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you and is able to save your souls. Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

Gospel Reading: Mark 7:1-8,14-15,21-23

    When the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around him, they observed that some of his disciples ate their meals with unclean, that is, unwashed, hands. For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews, do not eat without carefully washing their hands, keeping the tradition of the elders. And on coming from the marketplace they do not eat without purifying themselves. And there are many other things that they have traditionally observed, the purification of cups and jugs and kettles and beds. So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him, "Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?" He responded, "Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written: 'This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; In vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human precepts.' You disregard God's commandment but cling to human tradition." He summoned the crowd again and said to them, "Hear me, all of you, and understand. Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile.From within people, from their hearts, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils come from within and they defile."

Reflection: Fr. James Theophilus 

   Pharisees were very particular and meticulous about the observance of the traditions. These traditions were human traditions but there were made in order that they might reflect the divine. (for you are a people sacred to the LORD, your God -Deut 14:21). To be pure, holy, sacred and clean is the demand of God. This demand was interpreted into human rules. As days went by people believed and practiced the human rules and neglected to understand the mind of God.
   Whenever Jesus was challenged by questions of any type or on any topic, he always and without fail, answered them from scriptures or with the intention of God. Any amount of pious practices and strict observances of rules without touching the heart of the individual and without regard for God’s commandment is lip-service and vain worship.